Sen. Lindsey Graham on Sunday endorsed former President Donald Trump’s idea of giving Ukraine a loan instead of regular foreign aid to combat Russia.

“We’re $34 trillion in debt. Nobody wants to help Ukraine more than I do,” the South Carolina Republican said on NBC’s “Meet the Press.” “But President Trump is trying to do two things here: help an ally but tell the American people, ‘pay us back if you can.’ I think most Americans would like to help Ukraine.”

Mr. Graham‘s comments come after the majority of Senate Republicans voted against a foreign aid package that included money for Ukraine passed by the Democrat-led Senate, which the Republican-controlled House is not expected to pass.

“The idea of giving and never being repaid should be off the table. He mentioned this to me, I think, playing golf,” Mr. Graham said. “‘Why don’t we make it a loan?’ Well, we did that in World War II with Britain. When you’re $34 trillion in debt, you need to be thinking about the American people, just not allies. I think the loan is the way to get the aid to Ukraine.”

• Ramsey Touchberry can be reached at rtouchberry@washingtontimes.com.